Man convicted in racist 2019 acid assault in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A jury has convicted a white Milwaukee man who was accused of throwing acid on a Latino man’s face throughout a racist attack in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree reckless injury, with a harmful weapon, as a hate crime. He faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing May 18.

The jury rejected Blackwell’s argument that he acted in self-defense after arguing with Mahud Villalaz over avenue parking in November 2019 in Milwaukee. He accused Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns, of being within the nation illegally and invading the US.

Blackwell was waiting for a bus when he informed Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus cease zone outside a restaurant, prosecutors mentioned. The 2 may very well be seen on surveillance video, but not heard, and Blackwell could be seen retrieving an aluminum bottle from his satchel.

Villalaz moved his truck to another parking spot and headed again towards the restaurant. The 2 argued again and Blackwell splashed the contents of the bottle, which was acidic drain cleaner, in Villalaz’s face.

Villalaz, 43, testified through the trial that his imaginative and prescient in his left eye has been completely affected.

Blackwell mentioned he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night time as a result of he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets earlier than. He said he was scared when Villalaz acquired so angry, and splashed the liquid simply as Villalaz made a fist and seemed to be about to strike him, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Villalaz is a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru. He testified he was offended at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his nation and may “return,” but didn’t need to hurt anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.